Sandgroper Sports

For the first time ever on the Sandgroper Sports Podcast , we welcome not one—but two international para-athletes in the same episode! Born with albinism and legally blind, brothers Chad and Kane Perris share their extraordinary journeys at the highest level of sport. Chad, known as The White Tiger , is Australia’s fastest Paralympic sprinter. A podium regular on the world stage, he’s competed in...

This week on the Sandgroper Sports Podcast , we’re honoured to welcome a true WA footy icon—Allan “Chubby” Stiles. A South Perth junior who played against under-14s at just 8 years old, Chubby’s rise was meteoric—three junior premierships, a colts premiership and B&F in 1965, and 150 league games for the Perth Demons. He starred in the 1970 State Game, earning the Simpson Medal, and went on to...

Loyalty is a treasured trait in footy, and Les Fong had it in spades. From a young age, the West Perth legend was a standout. Representing WA as a junior he caught the eye of VFL recruiters when Richmond came calling when he was only 15, then Collingwood later on in his career and also Claremont and East Perth —but Les never wavered. He stayed true to his beloved Cardinals, debuting at only 16 and...

Tough. Fearless. A premiership hero. Earl Spalding was as hard as they come on the footy field, but did you know he was also a gun cricketer? In this episode of Sandgroper Sports Podcast , we sit down with the man known as "The Duke" to chat about his incredible dual-sport career. From playing Sheffield Shield alongside Terry Alderman and Bruce Reid—claiming the wicket of David Hookes—to...

Few have left a mark on Australian Rules Football like Graham Moss. A Brownlow Medallist (and runner up), WAFL premiership-winning coach, and Hall of Fame Legend, Moss dominated both the VFL and WAFL in a career that saw him rise to the very top of the game. In this episode of Sandgroper Sports Podcast , we sit down with the great man to hear incredible stories from his playing days—his epic ruck...

A man with a passion for horses, AFL and life in general. It was a pleasure to sit down with a true sandgroper in Greg Harding, We could have chatted for hours. Greg is one of only 1 of 14 Players to play for both the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast Eagles in the AFL.  He began his AFL career with Fremantle in 1996, making his debut in the opening round Western Derby. During that same time he...

This week on the Sandgroper Sports Podcast , we’re joined by a true legend of WA sport and media—Adrian Barich! From his early days playing rugby in Canberra to captaining Marist College  first-ever premiership team, then dominating WA footy with the Perth Demons and West Coast Eagles, Barra has seen it all. And if that wasn’t enough, he even had a crack at rugby league with the Western Reds! But...

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Western Australian football legend Jamie Harnwell to discuss his remarkable journey both on and off the field!  From his early days at Sorrento FC to becoming a Perth Glory icon, Jamie shares insights into his illustrious playing career, including his record-setting 256 league appearances and tenure as the club's inaugural A-League captain.  He also re...

Thank to our Friends at Juanita’s. We had the pleasure sit down with South Fremantle Football Club & Carlton Football Club Premiership Player Jon Dorotich.  Jon's pathway to the South Fremantle football club was slightly different, with some assistance from Mal Brown, However following some strong years and form in the WAFL, Jon had some interested Clubs from the VFL for his services.  He...

Motivated, But Determined! Two words you can easily use when talking about Australia's Matt Wearn. A through and through Sandgroper, Matt has given it his all to anything he put his hand too, Junior footy, Basketball and of course Sailing. The passion for sailing has been in his family for years and Matt took to it straight away as a youngster.  Starting out in local regatta's before ent...

Wayne Andrews is a celebrated cricketer who played a key role in one of Western Australia’s most successful eras during the 1980s and 1990s. Originally from Melbourne (not that we hold it against him), Wayne moved to WA in his late teens with ambitions of securing a WAFL league game. However, it was cricket where he truly made his mark. A dynamic batsman and skilled spin bowler, he played 91 first...

This week's guest is renowned WA boxer – Mark De Mori. Born in WA and of Italian and Croatian heritage, he grew up in City Beach and attended John XXIII college - not the usual breeding ground of a Heavyweight Boxer, but this is not your usual story.  With his father being a renowned WA sports journalist - he was good at sports – but drawn to boxing and developed a love for the sport watching...

This week's guest is a “naturalised” Sandgroper who worked his way up through the ranks to be a National Soccer League first teamer at age 16.  You’ll hear about how in a sliding doors moment he went from signing a lucrative contract with Premier League Powerhouse Leeds United at their zenith, joining Viduka and Kewell but in the process missing out on the 2000 Summer Olympics in his hometown...

This episode has it all for cricket and sport lovers, as we talk with WA cricket star - the dashing and ever entertaining Kim Hughes. Kim shares his life story from growing up in country WA and his path to becoming WA’s first ever Australian Cricket Captain, at the age of just 24. He discusses some of the biggest moments in Australian cricket including a few of his phenomenal innings, as well as m...

In this episode we hear from a former Western Australian and Australian Cricketer, who after as stellar playing career became one of the most successful Western Australian cricket coaches. A talented sportsman who loved football, but ended up choosing cricket, Wayne has one of the best bowling averages of any WA player at Test level. Wayne shares his story – including the big ups and low downs of...

In this episode we hear from a proud Sandgroper, Tim Gossage – who was a sports crazy kid who chased his dream to become a preeminent sports reporter, commentator and media personality. Renowned for his work in print, radio and television,he spent over 30 years building the once fledgling Perth Channel Ten TV station into a leading source of sports reporting. Who can forget his brainchild, the wee...

The Marsh surname is synonymous with West Australian sporting prowess.  Many cricket followers will know of father Geoff, and sons Shaun and Mitchell Marsh – but basketball followers know that their sibling Melissa is a West Australian basketball legend and a Hall of Fame inductee? Perth Lynx captain, games record holder and multiple championship winner with her beloved Willetton Tigers in the SBL...

Troy Cook, renowned as one of the toughest players to ever pull on the football boots, shares some fabulous stories about his time growing up a country kid, and then moving to Perth and Sydney to live his dream as a professional footballer. A humble guy, who is regarded as one of the greatest ever players for the Fremantle Football club, he describes the highs and lows of professional football, wh...

Not many people can say that they have been classified as a sporting professional in two completely different codes, but our very own sandgroper in Corey Adamson can!  Corey discusses his early life playing baseball and state footy, then have having to make the decision of which pathway to go down. being Scouted by multiple MBL teams and then receiving that sign on bonus.  Playing baseball in Amer...

As the 2024/2025 NHL Season begins. We thought there would be no one better to sit down with other then the Perth Thunder Captain himself in Jamie Woodman.    Pivotal in Jamie's early career he discuss the key relationships with coaches & how the good old saying of its about "who you know" lead to his opportunities overseas At 16 years old Jamie made the move to Canada and joine...

This week's guest is not a born and bred West Aussie in fact he is native of Brooklyn NYC. But most basketball heads will say he’s probably the one that put this Sport on the map in our City.  A renowned baller growing up, he was a highly touted point guard coming out of college and had try-outs with NBA teams, during one of them was spotted by an NBL recruiter.  A week later he was playing i...

This week's guest is a born and bred West Aussie who left home at the age of 15 to chase his Football dreams.  At 17 he signed his first professional contract and never looked back.  He made a name for himself in the UK and was an integral part of an historic Hull City team that scaled to the heights of the Premier League.   A proud Socceroo, he represented Australia at the 2010 World Cup and...

Masto is a fucking legend of WA footy and in his mind he was destined to fulfil his dream of playing footy on the biggest stage for the club he loved.  Sandgroper through and through, he repped WA State 16’s and 18s and was a national carnival championship player.   He was a WA State Athletics Rep, even holding a junior national record in what is recognised as one of the most grueling track events...

This week's guest is a proud Sandgroper who is a big name in Basketball circles worldwide.  He has prospered at all levels of Hoop - Elite National Junior, USA College Player and Coach, International Player, Coach and Scout, NBA Scout, Boomers Scout and Now NBL Executive.  Born and bred in WA and now a rare triple citizen (Irish-Australian-American) we talk about his epic basketball journey....

Gilly is undoubtedly in the conversation as the best keeper of all-time and universally regarded as changing the role of the wicket-keeper-batsman through his exceptional keeping and explosive batting. Not a born and bred West Aussie, he is certainly now a cherished Sandgroper since he made the move to WA from NSW 30 years ago this month. His dynamic hitting delighted fans and demoralised the oppo...